Boston Marathon runners take off in record-high heat

Runners start the 116th running of the Boston Marathon, in Hopkinton, Mass., Monday, April 16.

Stew Milne / AP

Volunteers fill cups at the athlete's village prior to the start of the Boston Marathon, in Hopkinton, Mass., April 16.

Stew Milne / AP

Geoffrey Mutai, of Kenya, warms up prior to the start of the Boston Marathon, April 16.

Today's Boston Marathon kicked off with 27,000 competitors running in above average temperatures. Heat was expected to be an issue as the expected highs are to reach into the 80's this afternoon. Race officials offered runners a opportunity to defer their entry until 2013 due to the heat.

The elite men took off at 10:00 am and the temperature was already 73 degrees. Geoffrey Mutai who has the record for the fastest marathon time of 2 hours, 3 minutes and 2 seconds, was there. But that record was set in near perfect weather for running, cool with a tailwind breeze. Mutai hasn't raced in hot weather, but the women's defending champion Caroline Kilel said she was used to training in hot weather.